Top Design Awards For Bentley At The 2002 British International Motor Show

Bentley Motors’ stunning new car, the Continental GT, has won both the Car of the Show and Luxury Car Awards at the British International Motor Show. The awards, given by the Institute of Vehicle Engineers. represent the first design prizes for the Crewe designed and built Bentley Continental GT.

A total of 28 senior automotive design and manufacturing engineers inspected over 100 cars on display at Birmingham and concluded, universally, that the new Bentley two door coupé, which is making its UK debut at the Show, should receive the top prize, in addition to its victory in the luxury car category.

The Bentley Continental GT particularly impressed the judges for: "…the way it has re-invented the Bentley marque in a forward-looking way…" They further commented that its exterior style gives the car real presence and the interior treatment used traditional high quality material in an attractive and modern idiom.

Chairman of the judges David Burnicle said: "This is the first year in which we have judged vehicles regardless of price and the judges specifically pointed out that the Bentley Continental GT represents excellent value for money when you consider that other cars in the luxury sector can cost twice as much or more."

Andy Watt, regional marketing and communications director for Bentley Motors who was presented with the award on the Bentley stand at the Motor Show said: "This is a tremendous acknowledgement for Bentley and one which everyone at our Crewe factory I know will be very proud of. The interest in the Continental GT has been phenomenal – not just in the UK but around the world."

The new Bentley will seat a family of four in luxurious comfort with ample room for their luggage and is expected to be on sale in the UK from autumn 2003.